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Supporting victims of overseas terrorism

The Coalition supports providing assistance to Australians who have been
victims of terrorism overseas.

Background:

On the 16th of November 2009, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Tony Abbott introduced a Private Members Bill into Parliament that would provide financial asisstance to those Australians who have been victims of an act of terrorism while overseas.

Click here to read Tony Abbott's speech when he introduced the Bill to Parliament.

Tony Abbott's Private Members Bill aimed to establish a scheme, modeled on the State and Territory victims of crime schemes. During his Second Reading Speech, Tony Abbott said;

"We have seen on several major occasions now how the war on terror has touched ordinary Australian citizens who have found themselves in the line of fire. In the World Trade Centre on September 11 there were Australian victims; tragically, in Bali in 2002 and again in 2005 there were Australian victims; and in London, and twice in Jakarta, there were Australian victims. All up, more than 300 Australians have been killed or seriously injured as a result of Australia’s participation in the war on terror."

In March 2011, the Federal government introduced the Social Security Amendment (Supporting Australian Victims of Terrorism Overseas) Bill that substantially adopted the provisions contained in Tony Abbott's Private Members Bill. However, Labor's Bill did not apply to those affected by terrorist attacks in the past, specifically those affected from September 11, 2001.

In May 2011, Tony Abbott wrote to the Prime Minister expressing his dismay that past Australian victims of terrorism would not be able to access support. Indeed, in his letter, Tony Abbott said;

"As I have said in the past, the Australians who were killed or severely injured in the second Bali bombing were the inspiration for my Bill. To keep faith with them, I cannot accept the legislation as it stands withour your assurance that it is the Government's intention to make the relevant declarations to give retrospective effect to the new compensation framework."

With the 10th anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombing not far away, the Coalition repeats our call for Julia Gillard to change her mind and make a retrospective declaration that will help the victims of terrorist attacks since 2001.

Click here to read Tony Abbott's media release and here to read his comments while visiting the Marsh Foundation.

Tony Abbott’s commitment to support the victims of overseas terrorism is personal having been in Bali during the 2005 bombing. Click here to read why helping the victims of overseas terror is such a passion for Tony Abbott.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

You can sign the Coalition petition calling on the government to provide assistance to Australians who have been the victim of terror overseas.